Mr. James Franklin Cox

CAPE ELIZABETH - James Franklin Cox, 90, of Cape Elizabeth, passed away surrounded by his entire family on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Maine Medical Center after a brief illness. Jim, as he was known and “Poppy” by his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren was born on Nov. 17, 1935 to parents Ralph and Nellie Cox. He grew up along with his two brothers on Beach Bluff Terrace in Cape Elizabeth. He graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School in 1955 with his future wife of nearly 70 years. He and Evelyn Marie Nielson of Sawyer Road in Cape Elizabeth were married Aug. 9, 1958, while Jim was already on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in Da Nang during the Viet Nam War and was also deployed to Okinawa and Puerto Rico with Evelyn caring for their young children at home while he was away. Retiring from the Corps in October 1975, Jim and his family returned to their home town. He worked for Foster Wheeler as they built the power plant on Cousins Island. He also used his logistics skills working for Johnson Supply in Portland, while he simultaneously did remodels in the local area and ran his lobster boat the “So-So”. In the mid-80s Jim and his wife began cultivating and selling cut-your-own Christmas trees and flowers at Evelyn’s ancestral home, establishing “Dun-Roamin’ Farm” of which many local folks have very fond memories.

Jim spent some of his fondest days in Jackman and Oxbow Maine. He found the “Lone Jack” campsite near Jackman as a boy with his father, decades before the area became popular. Lone Jack Pond was his favorite fishing spot, and he also spent countless hours hiking streams teasing out trout. He became a legend at Lone Jack, and many fellow fishermen and campers will miss him immensely. In the fall, he would head north to Oxbow for deer hunting, staying at the Libby River Camp or in his favorite hunting camper, often accompanied by his brother-in-law Cliff Nielson and most dedicated hunting partner Bobby Bothel of Cape Elizabeth.

Jim was a member of the Cape Elizabeth Lions Club, Hiram Lodge 180 as well as the Scottish Rite and Shrine. He and Evelyn served on the Cape Elizabeth Fire Department rescue unit for many years, jointly receiving the town’s Ralph T. Gould award for public service in 2002. He became an avid golfer, taking up the game later in life but keeping up with his seasoned friends very soon thereafter. He was very well loved by his many friends from Cape Elizabeth to Oxbow Maine.

Jim was predeceased by his parents Ralph Sr. and Nellie (Dow) Cox, brothers Ralph, Jr. and Richard Cox. He is survived by his son James C. “Jay” Cox of Cape Elizabeth, and two daughters Julie and her husband David Paris of Bowdoinham and Jodie and her husband Raymond Johnson of Monmouth, as well as six granddaughters,15 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, at Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. Portland, Maine. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 5, at Jones, Rich & Barnes. A private interment for family only will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Cape Elizabeth.

A special thank you is extended to the team at Maine Health’s Cardiac Intensive Care Unit for their dedication, compassion, openness and care in Jim’s final days.